Hawaii, HI : Ulu Po Heiau State Monument

Ulu Po Heiau State Monument

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Honolulu County

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Address Kailua Road Kailua, HI 96734	Hours Never Closes

Directions
Take the Pali Hwy and stay on it as it turns into Kaiula Road. Monument is located across the street from the Tesoro gas station between Hwy 72 and Hamakua Road.

Description:
Ulopo Heiau State Monument is located 15 miles from Waikiki, in Kailua on the edge of Kawai Nui Marsh. Though very little remains today, the heiau was a temple, the spiritual center of the windward side, still in use up until the 1800’s. The word Ulupo roughly translates as "below darkness". The heiau is very easy to find. It is across the street from the Tesoro station and only a quarter of a mile walk.

The heiau is believed by many to be the biggest and oldest one on Oahu, built in 900 AD. It is believed to have been built by the menehune, little people in Hawaiian mythology who were the first settlers on the islands. This impressive monument was built by hand, probably with an ali’i (chief) and a kahuna (priest) overseeing its construction. What was once a terraced stone platform with various structures built on top, all that remains today is the lowest terrace, although the foundations for the next terrace of the monument is also visible. Nonetheless, this is an impressive site. What remains of the monument is 120 by 180 feet, and the down slope walls are 30 feet high. The heiau is comprised of thousands of tons of small rocks. It is breathtaking to imagine how much work must have gone into building this monument.

There is some disagreement as to what this particular heiau was used for. Some believe it was an agricultural heiau that conducted ceremonies to insure crop fertility. Huge taro patches surrounded the heiau and Kawai Nui Marsh was then a 450 acre fishpond. Others believe that it was a luakini heiau, dedicated to success in war. Sadly the heiau was abandoned around the time that Kamehameha I conquered Oahu. Ulupo heiau has only just begun to be restored. It is one of the few heiau’s that you can actually walk around on, though stay on designated paths, and do not remove rocks or wrap the rocks in leaves as this is sacred land. The heiau is surrounded by beautiful grounds making this wonderful place to visit and enjoy the spiritual beauty of Oahu.

Written By: Shiromi Arserio

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